Mars

Nominated for 2015 Emmy in Cultural/Historical Program Special CategoryThe Delano Manongs tells the unknown history of a group of Filipino farmworkers in Delano, California who toiled under the yoke of racism for decades, then rose up in their twilight years to fight for fair wages and ethical work conditions. The Manongs (A Manong is a Filipino term of respect for an older man) instigated one of the American labor movement’s finest hours – the Great Grape Strike of 1965 that brought about the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) and a successful joining of the Filipino and Chicano (Mexican-American) labor groups.The documentary weaves together archival footage, present day footage and interviews with key leaders, participants, and historians to put the Manongs’ story in a historical and modern day context, from the time they arrived to the US in the ’20s and ’30s to the time of their demise in the ’70s and ’80s, and the significance of their legacy to thousands of Filipino Americans.

In this Frontline World piece, “Sounds of Hope,” broadcasted April 9th, Media Factory producer Marissa Aroy journeyed with Serene Fang and Monica Lam to see how the organization Sounds of the Earth (Sonidos de la Tierra) brings children and their family members hope and joy with music.

The program will be airing nationwide in May as part of PBS’ Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Please check your local PBS station listings for the exact time for the show. In the Bay Area, KQED will air the program on Sunday May 4th at 1:30 pm. Last year, the premiere broadcast of “Little Manila: Filipinos in California’s Heartland” received high ratings. The program, written and produced by the Media Factory’s Marissa Aroy, highlights the vibrant history of Filipinos in Stockton and is part of the Viewfinder Series. Enjoy the show!Read More

Many artists cut their milk teeth sketching nudes in some stuffed up little conservatory, but in Oakland it all begins spray painting down the â€œtrain tracksâ€. The result is art that is diverse, urban, and somehow more real than its gentile counterparts elsewhere. Temescal Art, Oakland Style is a short film about the alternative Oakland art scene and features artists such as Adam 5100 whose stencil-based spray painting is in this monthâ€™s Harpers Magazine. Presented by artist and skateboarder Lee Alonzo West the film is a celebration of the next generation of Bay Area artists.